Collection bag for urine



Jan. 2, 1951 H. G. GOHLKE 2,536,052

COLLECTION BAG FOR URINE Filed Dec. 17, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ELIE-=2 IN V EN TOR. /QR VB 6. 604 K5 Jan. 2, 1951 H. G. GOHLKLE 2,536,052

COLLECTION BAG FOR URINE Filed Dec. 17, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I IE; 4:

I N V EN TOR. 1 /49 v 6. GOA/L K5 Patented Jan. 2, 1951 UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,536,052 COLLECTION BAG FOR URINE Harvey G. Gohlke, Detroit, Mich.

Application December 17, 1947, Serial No. 792,120

9 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a liquid collecting receptacle and particularly to a bag especially adapted for collecting and holding the urine obtained from pregnant mares and to a method of operating the same.

Heretof ore, bags have been used for the purpose of collecting the urine from pregnantmares and have been referred to in the trade as P. M. U. (Pregnant Mare Urine) bags, and the urine so collected has been employed by producers of estrogenic hormones. Such bags, although gen-- erally satisfactory for the purpose, have spilled or lost the collected contents when the mares laid down or moved about resulting in considerable loss of material and time. Because of the tendency of the mares to move about or lie down, it was necessary for efiicient and economical operation of stables containing such mares to empty the bags frequently and periodically throughout the day. No satisfactory method and apparatus has been developed heretofore for preventing the spilling and escape of the liquid content material when the mare moved about or laid down and losses resulting therefrom were accepted as part of the trade practice.

An important object of this invention is to provide an improved P. M. U. bag which is provided with novel means for immediately and effectively shutting off the return flow when the bag is tipped from its normal upright position to any other position, thus preventing loss of the contents when the mare to which the bag is attached lies down or assumes any position other than the normal standing position. Another important object of this invention is to provide an improved thus preventing the back flow and escape of this liquid material even though the mare lies down and turns the bag on its side. A further important object of this invention is the provision of. an improved bag of this character which is constructed in a novel manner for low cost production and which may be assembled on the mare and function without difficulty over long periods of time.

In carrying out the invention, the collection bag is provided with a screen through which the urine is passed which prevents any other matter from entering the bag. Following the passage through the screen, the urine is caused to be collected on a diaphragm from whence it flows i through a novel tube of flexible or bendable construction, the lower discharge end of which is lighter in weight than the liquid content and is capable of floating to the surface thereof to prevent return flow of the liquid content out of the screen even though the bag is turned on its side. An important feature of the invention is: the fact that the provision of the novel check valve means enables the bags to be inspected and emptied at very infrequent intervals as compared with past practices.

Various other objects, advantages and meritorious features of the invention will become more fully apparent from the following specification, appended claims and accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side view of the rear end portion of a mare illustrating the operating position of the bag on the animal and the harness for holding same in place,

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of a collection bag constructed in accordance with this invention,

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken through the bag along line 3-3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken along line 4--4 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view showing two positions of the check valve in full line and in dotted outline,

Fig. 6 is a detail vertical sectional view taken along at the discharge end of the bag along line EE of Fig. 3,

Fig. 7 is a detail cross sectional view of the discharge outlet of the bag taken along line 1-1 of Fig. 6,

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the collection bag shown turned on its side and partly broken away in section to illustrate the function of the check valve in this position.

Fig. 9 is a detail sectionaliview of a modified form of discharge outlet for the bag,

Fig. 10 is a detail longitudinal sectional view through a modified form of check valve,

Fig. 11 is a detail vertical sectional view showing a modified form of diaphragm and screen, and.

Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional view through the center of the bag illustrating a modified form of screen and liquid inlet for the bag.

The collection bag may be formed of separate sections of flexible material, such as rubber, joined and sealed at their meeting edges or may be formed as illustrated herein of molded rubher or the like shaped in the form of a bag in one or more molding operations. In either case, t e ollect on bag comprises a back wall In of rubber or other flexible material joined at its side edges to a front wall i2 which is normally rounded or bellied out from the back wall as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The back wall extends to a height above the front wall and interposed between the upper edge H5 of the front wall and th back wall is a screen generally indicated at it. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 8, the screen is of a right angled formation having a vertical section it generally paralleling the back wall EB and a horizontal section 2f; extending forwardly for engagement with the upper edge 14 of the front wall E2. The front wall i2 is as viewed from the top in Fig. 4 is of generally triangular formation. The lower end of the front wall tapers or bends toward the rear wall it so that the two are brought into juxtaposition at their lower ends. The opposite side margins 22-42 of the front and back walls l2 and if respectively are integrally joined together if the bag is molded in one or two pieces, but if the wall sections are separately made the side margins thereof are secured together in any suitable liquid-tight manner. The lower ends of the front and rear walls converge and form a short depending tubular section it which if the bag is formed in one piece of molded rubber may be likewise formed of rubber and molded with relatively thick Walls in the circular formation shown.

. The tubular section 2% serves as a discharge outlet for emptying the contents of the bag but is normally closed by a valve. The valve as shown in Figs. 6 and 7 may be a generally cylindrical body 25 and be resistingly rotatably fitted in the tubular section 24. Provided in the valve body is a transverse passage 25 which in one position of its rotation will align with the passage of the discharge end 2 to empty the liquid content from the bag and in another position will cut off the flow of liquid. A handle 2? connected to the valve body controls the rotation thereof. In closed position, the passage 21 of the valve is sealed against the thick walls of the tubular discharge end of th bag. An alternative outlet valve construction is illustrated in Fig. 9 wherein in place of the molded rubber tube 2 5, a tube 28 of metal is secured to the converging lower ends of the front and back walls and projects downwardly therefrom. A cup-shaped closure member 38 which is threaded to the lower end of the tube 29 will upon removal allow the fluid content to discharge from the bag.

Secured to the upper end of the back wall it and forming an upward extension thereon are a pair of sections 32-32 of canvas or the like spaced from one another to form a relatively deep notch or recess 3%. The two sections 3232 are suspended under the animal by means of a harness of any suitable character such as that illustrated in Fig. 1. Such a harness may comprise forwardly extending back straps crossing the back of the animal each connected to an extension 32 in the manner illustrated at 3% in Fig. 2. Additional quarter straps 38 may be provided in the harness for preventing the bag from shifting in use.

The interior of the bag is preferably constructed so that the back wall iii adjacent to the screen i6 is spaced therefrom. This preferably accomplished by providing a relatively flexible arcuate metal strip or band ii? shown in Figs. 3 and 4 which is attached at its opposite ends under the fold of the side margins 2222 of the bag in any suitable manner. As shown in Fig. e, the metal band 4i] holds the upper end 0f the back wall in spaced relationship to the vertical section is of the screen allowing the urin to enter this section of the screen as well as the horizontal section 20.

The bag is constructed in a novel manner to provide a substantially sealed compartment having a single admission port in the upper end thereof and the discharge outlet 24 in the lower end thereof. Disposed below th screen section 2t is a horizontal wall member d2 preferably of flexible material such as rubber and extending across from the front wall to the back wall to form a diaphragm substantially closing off the bottom portion of the bag from the upper portion. Centrally located in this diaphragm is an inlet tube 4 which allows the liquid accumulated above the diaphragm to flow downwardly therebeloW into th collection portion of the bag. The upper end of the tube may be flanged as shown at 46 and clinched or otherwise secured in liquid tight manner to the edge of the aperture of the diaphragm. Liquid thus entering the screen 20 will flow down upon the diaphragm and thence through the tube Suspended from the tube 44 is a novel automatically operable valve which is flexible or bendable in character and is capable of having the lower end thereof float to the surface of the liquid in the bag. This novel valve preferably comprises a short flexible sleeve or tube of rubber or the like 48 preferably secured at its upper end in any suitable liquid tight manner such as being tightly drawn over the lower end of the metal tube l' l. Thus secured the balance of the flexible sleeve id is suspended from the tube. The lower end of the flexible sleeve 38 receives a relatively inflexible tube 50 of light weight metal or the like which projects downwardly therefrom and forms an extension to the sleeve 48. The tube 5% carries a member which is lighter in weight than the liquid content and will float to the surface thereof. Such a member or float may be a spherical element 52 of cork, balsa, plastic or the like as shown in Figs. 3 and 5 having a bore 54 therethrough through which the tube 50 extends. The float member 52 is constructed to fit upon and be permanently secured to the tube preferably adjacent to but short of the lower end thereof as shown. The overall length of the valve device including the two tubes 44 and 5D and the connecting flexible sleeve 48 is preferably such that when right angularly bent at the sleeve the lower end of the tube M will just reach the front or back wall of the bag. In operation, liquid accumulated on the diaphragm will enter the tube 4-55 and flow downwardly through the sleeve 48 and tube 50 and discharge into th collection compartment of the bag. The diaphragm 42 forms a top wall for the compartment preventing any of the liquid content thereof from splashing out when the mare moves about.

An important feature of this valve is the fact that when the liquid rises or assumes a position in the bag such that the surface thereof is above the level of the float member 52 the latter will seek the surface level of the liquid and cause the flexible conduit 48 to bend so that the float member 52 lies on the surface of the liquid in the manner shown in full line in Fig. 5. In the event the mare lies down and causes the bag to turn on its side, such as in the position illustrated in Fig. 8, the float 52 will lie on the surface of the liquid and project the discharge end of the tube 50 above the surface level in such a manner that accepts the liquid in the bag will be prevented fromnowing back out of the two delivery tubesiil and 4:4 to the screen section of the bag. This action of the .fioat will take place regardless of the position to which the bag .may be turned thereby positively preventing return flow of liquid. The only possible condition where some liquid may be discharged back to the screen is when the bag is filled and is turned completely upside down. In that remote possibility which is hardly likely to :occur in practice, the extra amount of liquid above the float in. that position, i. e., between the float and the discharge end 24 of the bag, may flow back out of the two delivery tubes 4.8 and Fig. 10 illustrates. a different form of check valve assembly which is float controlled similarly to that previously described. A flexible rubher-like sleeve 56 corresponding to sleeve 48 previously described is made longer in length and alone serves the function of the tube 5d of the previous embodiment of the invention. The lower end of the sleeve 5601" Fig. 110 is expanded beyond its normal diameter to receive and grip a float member 58 of cork or the like. bored to provide a passage 66 therethrough aligning with the passage of the sleeve .6. This form o check Valve may be desirable in certain instances but the fact that it may bend into a U and thereby cause sludge to accumulate in the bottom portion of the U blocking passage of the liquid renders this form of valve not as desirable as that previously described for all conditions met in practice.

Fig. 11 illustrates a modification of the collection way wherein the screen generally indicated at it is replaced by a smaller funnel shaped perforated member 62 having the necked thereof received in. the tube 44 for support thereby. The member 62 rises above the diaphragm and is closed by perforated walls on the top as well as the sides to screen .out all but the desired liquid material.

Fig. 12 illustrates a modification of the collection bag of this invention wherein the right-angularly shaped screen 16 is replaced by a single horizontal extending screen 66 which its-mounted in the bag for convenient detachment. The screen 66 has the same general triangular formation as the screen section as previously described and shown in Fig. 4. However, instead of being permanently secured to the bag, it is mounted therein for removal. This is preferably accomplished by securing two strips of rubber EB and 10 to the forward face of the back wall 56 of the bag on the level with the upper edge of the front wall; The two strips 68 and iiiare slightly vertically spaced apart and are provided respectively with forwardly projecting flanges or lips 12 and 14 adapted to resiliently press into engagement with one another. The upper end of the front wall is shaped with an inwardly facing channel 16 into which the front edge of the screen: is insertable.

The screen 66 preferably has. a transverse dimension slightly greater than the normal spacing of the front and back walls so that when in- The latter is ll at serted in place it will space these walls further the screen in place yet allow th same to be re- 6 moved without difficulty for cleaning or replacement.

While there has been described several. preferred forms of the invention, it will be under stood that various changes and modifications therein may be made. by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope: of the invention. It will therefore be understood that the claims appended hereto are intended to cover all changes and modifications which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a urine collection bag having means for suspending the bag under an animal in position to collect urine discharged thereby and provided with a valve controlled discharge outlet in the bottom thereof, a diaphragm extending across the bag adjacent to the upper end thereof and substantially sealing the upper end of the bag against loss of contents caused by the splashing of the urine contents of the bag, said diaphragm provided with a substantially centrally located port through which urine accumulated upon the upper surface thereof will flow into the lower part of the bag, a flexible tube having the upper end thereof suspended from the diaphragm in encircling relation to said port toreceive the urine flowing therethrough, and a float secured to the lower end of the tube adapted in whatever position the bag is turned to seek the surface level of the urine content of the bag and preventreturn flow thereof.

2. In a urine collection bag having means for suspending the bag under an animal in. position to collect urine discharged thereby and provided with a valve controlled outlet in the bottom thereof, a splash-proof diaphragm extending across the bag adjacent to the upper end thereof and provided with a substantially centrally located port through which urine accumulated upon the upper surface of the diaphragm will flow into the lower part of the bag, a relatively rigid tube, a float member secured to the tube inter mediate its ends, and a flexible sleeve secured to the underside of the diaphragm in encircling relation to said port to r ceive urine passing ther ethrough and at its opposite end to one end of said tube, said sleeve enabling said float member to seek the surface level of the urine content of the bag regardless of the position in which the bag is turned and to project the opposite unsecured and of the: tube above the surface level of the urine content to prevent re-entry of urin thereinto.

3. A urine collection bag having a front and a back wall composed. of flexible rubber like material integrally joined at their side edges to form a compartment for holding urine content material, a tubular discharge outlet composed'of rub-- ber'lihe material integrally joined to the walls of the bag and projecting downwardly from thebottom of the compartment of the bag, a rotatable valve disposed in said tubular outletfor controllink the discharge of urine from the compartmerit, and a flexible diaphragm of rubber or the like extendingacross' the bag adjacent to the up per end thereof secured in sealing relation to the front and back walls thereof, said diaphragm provided with a substantially centrally located port through which urine accumulated on:

the upper surface of' the diaphragm will flow into the compartment of the bag.

4. A urine collection device comprising, in combination, a bag having the walls thereof formed of flexible rubber like material and having means at the upper end thereof for suspending the bag under an animal in position to collect urine discharged thereby and provided with a valve controlled discharge outlet in the bottom thereof, a screen extending across the upper end of the bag acting to spread the Walls of the bag apart, a flexible diaphragm of rubber like material extending across thebag on a level below but adjacent to said screen and secured in sealing relation to the walls of said bag, said diaphragm having an opening therethrough through which urine accumulated upon the diaphragm may flow, and a check valve for said opening preventing return flow of the urine collected in the bag including a flexible conduit secured to the underside of the diaphragm in line with said opening and projecting downwardly therefrom, a relatively rigid tube secured to the lower end of the flexible conduit and forming an extension thereof, and a float member mounted thereon short of the lower discharge end thereof whereby when the float rises to the surface level of the urine collected in the bag the discharge end of the tube is projected thereabove.

5. In a urine collection bag having means for suspending the bag under an animal in a position to collect urine discharge thereby and provided with a valve controlled discharge outlet in the bottom thereof, a screen secured to the upper end of the bag composed of two sections extending at substantially right angles to one another, means mounting the screen in the bag with one section thereof extending vertically in slightly spaced relationship to a side wall of the bag and the other section thereof extending normally horizontally and engaging the opposite side wall of the bag, a flexible diaphragm located below the screen having a substantially centrally located discharge opening permitting urine accumulated above the diaphragm to flow into the bag, and a check valve for said opening preventing return flow of urine including a float member movable in response to the change in the liquid level of the urine collected in the bag.

6. A urine collection bag having the walls thereof formed of flexible material and provided with a valve controlled outlet in the bottom of the bag, a diaphragm extending across the bag adjacent to the upper end thereof and secured to the walls of the bag, said diaphragm having an opening therethrough through which urine accumulated upon the diaphragm may flow, a tube mounted in said opening of the diaphragm, and a hollow perforated member secured to the tube and projecting above the diaphragm, said perforated member serving as a screen through which the urine accumulated upon the diaphragm flows before passing through said opening.

7. In a urine collection bag having means for suspending the bag under an animal in position to collect urine discharged thereby, a screen in the upper portion of the bag through which the urine must pass to flow into the bag, a flexible diaphragm extending across the bag at a level slightly below the screen and sealed to the side walls of the bag, said diaphragm provided with a substantially centrally located aperture through which urine accumulated in the diaphragm passes to the lower part of the bag, a flexible openended delivery tube having the upper end secured to the diaphragm in encircling relation to said aperture in order to receive the urine passing therethrough, and a float attached to the lower end of the tube and adapted in whatever position the bag is turned to seek the surface level of the urine collected in the bag and thereby prevent return flow of urine.

8. In a urine collection bag, a flexible diaphragm of rubber like material extending substantially horizontally across the upper part of the bag and secured at its outer margins to the walls of the bag, said diaphragm having a substantially centrally located aperture through which urine accumulated upon the diaphragm may flow to the lower part of the bag, and a check valve for said aperture preventing return flow of urine collected in the lower part of the bag comprising a flexible conduit secured at its upper end to the underside of the diaphragm in line with said aperture and depending from the diaphragm, a relatively rigid tube secured to the lower end of the flexible conduit and forming an extension thereof, and a float member mounted on said tube short of the lower discharge end thereof whereby when the float rises to the surface level of the urine collected in the lower part of the bag it projects the discharge end of the tube above the surface level of the urine.

9. In a urine collection device having means for suspending the device under an animal in position to collect urine discharged thereby, a receptacle substantially sealed except for urine admission port in the upper part of the receptacle and a valve controlled discharge outlet in the lower part of the receptacle, a normally vertical tube in the receptacle composed at least in part of flexible material in order to bend, said tube having its upper end connected to the upper part of the receptacle in surrounding relation to the admission port and arranged to receive urine admitted by the port and to pass the same through the tube and out of the lower end thereof into the receptacle, and a float on the lower end section of the tube adapted in Whatever position the receptacle may turn to seek the surface level of the urine content of the receptacle to prevent re turn flow of urine through the tube and out of the admission port.

HARVEY G. GOHLKE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 647,895 Burson Apr. 17, 1900 683,419 Burson Sept. 24, 1901 807,798 Wood Dec. 19, 1905 1,490,793 Ajamian et a1. Apr. 15, 1924 1,761,609 Becker June 3, 1930 1,852,558 Dunzweiler Apr. 5, 1932 1,871,055 Hasbrouck Aug. 9, 1932 2,277,043 Cohn Mar. 24, 1942 2,472,186 Arnold June 7, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 14,214 Italy Mar. 2, 1883 101,087 Germany Jan. 23, 1899 735 Austria Dec. 27, 1899 284,002 Germany May 3, 1915 

